Nickel
Creek: Why Should the Fire Die?
By Ross Rice
As
for the Grey Fox performance; well, it’s a pretty safe bet
that there will be collaboration with other festival pickers. It
IS a bluegrass festival after all, and folks are inclined to do
that sort of thing. Nickel Creek is still very much a part of the
grand tradition of bluegrass, though they have certainly evolved
into something much more, similarly to the way that Hendrix evolved
from the blues. From the Best Contemporary Folk Grammy-winning This
Side (2002), to the bigger and farther sounding Why Should the Fire
Die? (2005), Nickel Creek has showcased all of the possibilities
of four virtuoso acoustic artists (longtime bassist and 4th “unofficial”
member Mark Schatz has been with the group since 2003,) who show
an uncanny ability to sound like one complete unit. Sean Watkin’s
acoustic guitar provides a strong, yet almost transparent foundation,
while Sara Watkins and Chris Thile, on fiddle and mandolin respectively,
alternate between rrhythmic and melodic phrases effortlessly, with
a telepathy that can only come from experience and familiarity.
And, although they are constantly pushing musical boundaries, as
songwriters, performers, and improvisors, they still keep it simple
and acoustic, well-teth-ered to the tradition. No overdubs, synthesizers,
or drums to be found here.
Nickel
Creek fans need not feel abandoned by the band, however. All three
musicians are continuing their musical journeys, albeit not necessarily
together. Chris Thile seems to be everywhere at once; as the most
prolific solo artist, with now 5 solo releases under his belt, has
a new bluegrass album, How To Grow A Woman From the Ground, to promote,
as well a new project with super-bassman Edgar Meyer. Sean Watkins
is still promoting his solo release, Blinders On, while currently
working on a bluegrass EP, and collaborating with Switchfoot’s
Jon Foreman, while he and Sara Watkins still have their popular
“Watkins Family Hour” at the Largo Club in LA. CONTINUE....
|
